Kentucky Derby Future Wager Begins Nov. 28
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The first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool for the 2015 event is set for Nov. 28-30, Churchill Downs announced.
For the second year in a row, the KDFW will include four pools, the track said in a press release issued Nov. 12. The $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles will be staged May 2.
Future Wager dates for the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby will be:
--KDFW Pool 1: Nov. 28 through Nov. 30 (22 weeks in advance of Derby)
--KDFW Pool 2: Feb. 6 through Feb. 8 (12 weeks in advance of Derby)
--KDFW Pool 3: Feb. 27 through March 1 (nine weeks in advance of Derby)
--KDFW Pool 4: March 27 through March 29 (five weeks in advance of Derby)
Each pool will be open for three days starting on a Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and closing on a Sunday at 6 p.m.
The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager for 3-year-old fillies will run concurrently with KDFW Pool 3 from Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 1, but will close a half-hour later at 6:30 p.m. The 141st running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles goes May 1.
Inaugurated in 1999, the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be offered for the 17th consecutive year. The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, introduced in 2003, is entering its 13th year.
The future wagers offer bettors an opportunity to get potential contenders well in advance of those races at odds that could be significantly more attractive than those available on the days. For example, California Chrome was the 5-2 favorite on Derby day this year and paid $7 to win, but the payoffs in KDFW Pools 2-4 were significantly greater: $63.40 (Pool 2), $67.60 (Pool 3) and $20.80 (Pool 4). Additionally, he paid $3.60 as part of the pari-mutuel field in Pool 1. Also, Untapable won the Oaks as the even-money favorite ($4) on race day but generated a $12 win payoff in the KOFW.
The future wager is a $2 minimum win bet, and exacta betting also is offered. The minimum exacta wager is $2 but is available in $1 increments in the form of an exacta box or wheel or part-wheel combinations that total at least $2.
Each pool will feature 24 wagering interests that include 23 individual horses and a pari-mutuel field known as the "All Others" bet. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted. Wagering on an individual horse will be suspended immediately if Churchill Downs determines that injury, illness, or other circumstance revealed during a pool would prevent a horse from competing in their respective race.
The fields for the pools will be selected by a committee and will be announced on the Tuesday preceding the start of the wager. Real-time odds will be presented on www.KentuckyDerby.com.
Betting on the four KDFW pools last year totaled $1,324,466. The breakdown was $273,174 in Pool 1; $380,249 in Pool 2; $334,326 in Pool 3; and $336,717 in Pool 4. A total of $81,234 was wagered on the KOFW.